Blog
Ideas and views from across the left
How should trade unions respond to strike law threats?
Brian Strutton, 12 Jan 2015
Unions need to have a strategy in place if the Conservatives' strike proposals come into force.
The Hinchingbrooke fiasco proves privatisation is not the way to fix the NHS
Tom Riddington, 12 Jan 2015
It's true that the NHS needs radical reform to address its problems. But at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, an experiment in privatisation created a poorly led, unsafe organisation.
Why we need rent control
Alex Hilton, 9 Jan 2015
Rent control would cut taxpayer subsidies and improve living standards. It's time for the government to take it seriously.
Making an everyday case for arts and culture
Dr Abigail Gilmore, 7 Jan 2015
In light of the Labour Party's announcement that it will keep arts cuts, Abi Gilmore recaps her paper for Class on arts and culture, in which she argues that arts should exist as an everyday part of communities, essential for improving quality of life.
It’s no surprise that charity workers say the Big Society is dead
Lisa Nandy MP, 15 Dec 2014
Charities are facing increased demands while their employees take pay cuts. This is a failure of the big society and it has been catastrophic for frontline staff.
How can we reduce the need for food banks?
Luke Price, 10 Dec 2014
Luke Price from Community Links responds to the parliamentary inquiry into food bank use.
Class Conference 2014: Your policy priorities
Rachel Yates, 4 Dec 2014
We asked Class Conference delegates what they thought Britain needs - and here are their answers. Tell us what you think by commenting on the blog.
Will the new stamp duty actually cost you more?
Adam van Lohuizen, 4 Dec 2014
The reform of Stamp Duty has been celebrated as a move to bring ordinary families closer to home ownership. But is that the reality?
Class Conference 2014: Podcasts
Owen Jones, Professor Doreen Massey, Lisa Nandy MP, Mark Serwotka, 4 Dec 2014
Listen to podcasts the three main plenary sessions from our 2014 Conference What Britain Needs, featuring Owen Jones, Josie Long, Will Hutton, Lisa Nandy MP, Mark Serwotka and Professor Doreen Massey among others.
Autumn Statement 2014: Seven thinkers share their views
Professor Özlem Onaran, Richard Murphy, Mark Ferguson, Ann Pettifor, Ellie O’Hagan, Dr Kailash Chand, Tim Page, 3 Dec 2014
Seven leading thinkers give their reaction to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, delivered on 3 December 2014.
What to make of this year’s Autumn Statement?
Steve Hart, 2 Dec 2014
Ahead of tomorrow's Autumn Statement, Class Chair Steve Hart looks at what we can expect.
The benefit sanctions system is harming single parents and their children
Philippa Newis, 28 Nov 2014
A report by Gingerbread examines the impact that the sanctions regime is having on single parents and found that tens of thousands of single parents are facing wrongful sanctions under a broken regime that is overly focussed on sanctions, at the expense of support.
Time for more working-class women in Parliament
Bernadette Horton, 27 Nov 2014
Read the speech given by Bernadette Horton at Class Conference 2014
The role of trade unions in challenging inequality
Professor Keith Ewing, John Hendy QC, 26 Nov 2014
The deterioration of pay and conditions for workers are of course a symptom of the great cruelty at the heart of modern society. This is the cruelty of rising inequality, all the more cruel because it is deliberate and avoidable. Everybody talks about Britain needing a wage rise. But how is this to be done? The answer is simple. Sector-wide collective agreements provide a solution to all of these problems and much else besides – the growing gender pay gap, the abuse of agency workers, and the problem of the two-tier work force and the contracting out of public services.
When governments stop funding them, art institutions end up being used as PR tools
Ellie O’Hagan, 20 Nov 2014
Art and culture is essential for human connection and self-expression. It’s not a luxury for those who can afford it. We need to be bold enough to make the arguments for things that don’t simply have straightforward functional value.
Ed Balls tackles a major General Anti-Abuse Rule deficiency
Richard Murphy, 17 Nov 2014
Tax expert and accountant Richard Murphy gives his response to Labour plans to tackle tax avoidance.
Health care isn’t a privilege, it is a fundamental human right
Dr Kailash Chand, 4 Nov 2014
Read the speech given by Dr Kailash Chand OBE at Class Conference 2014.
Don’t be fooled - Ukip offers nothing to Britain’s workers
Paul Kenny, 31 Oct 2014
Paul Kenny warns that many of Ukip’s supporters would actually be far worse off under its policies
Lyons does 90% of the job
Steve Hilditch, 17 Oct 2014
Steve Hilditch, a housing consultant and contributor to Red Brick, gives his response to the Lyons Review.
What conference season has told us about political apathy
Ellie O’Hagan, 14 Oct 2014
There are large swathes of the electorate who are disillusioned, angry, alienated from politics, and feeling ripped off and unrepresented. Unfortunately this conclusion seems to have largely passed our political leaders by. There was a palpable sense of a bullet dodged at Labour conference after the Scottish referendum, and inadequate interest in why nearly half of Scotland’s population decided they’d rather live in a foreign country than be tied to Westminster. Sure, the leaders called for change – but you got the sense that they were only calling for change because they thought that’s what you have to do to make sure things stay the same. Ellie Mae O'Hagan looks over the implications of widespread disillusion.
Publication:
Election 2015: Glasgow - What’s at stake for work, pay and unions?
Blog:
How should trade unions respond to strike law threats?
Blog:
The Hinchingbrooke fiasco proves privatisation is not the way to fix the NHS
